Coping With Carer Stress and Burnout

Coping With Carer Stress and Burnout.pdf

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Practical ideas for maintaining strength, balance, and emotional wellbeing

Caring for someone you love can be deeply meaningful, but it can also be draining.

Constant responsibility, lack of rest, or limited support can lead to exhaustion and feelings of guilt, frustration, or isolation.

Looking after yourself isn’t selfish — it’s essential for providing good care and protecting your own health and happiness.

• Acknowledge how demanding caring can be

  • Caring often means putting someone else’s needs first for long periods. It’s normal to feel tired, stressed, or short-tempered at times. Recognising these feelings helps prevent burnout and allows you to seek help early.

• Share the load wherever possible

  • No one can care alone indefinitely. Ask family, friends, or neighbours for small bits of help — sitting with your loved one, picking up shopping, or running errands. Explore respite services, day centres, or volunteer support in your area. Regular breaks protect both you and the person you care for.

• Keep regular contact outside your caring role

  • Caring can shrink your world until it feels like there’s nothing else. Stay connected with people who understand you — friends, relatives, or support groups. Talking to others reduces isolation and gives perspective.

• Protect time for yourself each day

  • Even ten quiet minutes can help. Use this time for something that restores you — a cup of tea in silence, stretching, reading, or a short walk. Rest and small pleasures are not luxuries; they’re fuel for the days ahead.

• Watch for early signs of burnout

  • If you’re feeling constantly exhausted, irritable, tearful, or hopeless, you may be reaching your limit. These signs mean it’s time to pause and seek extra support, not to push through harder.

• Let go of perfection

  • You can’t meet every need or prevent every difficulty. Do your best, but accept that care isn’t always tidy or smooth. Being “good enough” is more sustainable — and far kinder to yourself.

• Take care of your body and mind

  • Eat regularly, rest when you can, and keep medical appointments for yourself. Physical and mental health affect each other; neglecting one makes the other harder to maintain.

• Seek emotional support

  • Speaking with a counsellor or joining a carers’ support group can help you process guilt, anger, or sadness safely. Understanding that these feelings are common brings relief and renewed strength.

• Reflection questions

  • What helps me recharge when I feel exhausted?

  • Who could I ask for practical or emotional support this week?

  • What small daily habit could protect my own wellbeing?

• If you feel at breaking point

  • If you’re overwhelmed or unable to cope, speak to your GP or contact a carers’ organisation such as Carers UK. You deserve the same care and attention you give to others.

• You’re not alone

  • Many carers experience stress and exhaustion. With rest, support, and self-compassion, it’s possible to continue caring with strength and patience — while still protecting your own health and peace of mind.

If you’d like to explore how professional support can help with emotional wellbeing in later life, click to visit the Counselling for Older People page.